JAMA Cardiology Author Interviews

Jonathan Afilalo, an expert in osteosarcopenia and its effects on older adults, delves into the critical role of frailty assessments in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). He advocates for objective testing over subjective methods to enhance patient evaluations. The concept of osteosarcopenia is introduced, emphasizing the integration of muscle and bone health in frailty assessments. Afilalo also discusses how AI advancements in CT scans improve body composition evaluation, and he highlights the significant impact of osteosarcopenia on mortality rates in older TAVR patients.

Cardiologist Sanjiv J. Shah discusses atrial shunt device effects on heart failure patients. Topics include patient selection, risks, phase two trials with Corvia medical device, pivotal reduce LAP2 trial results, long-term echocardiographic findings, and future possibilities of inter-atrial shunt devices in heart failure treatment.

Gaurav A. Upadhyay, MD, and Jeremy S. Treger, MD, PhD discuss a revised definition of left bundle branch block using time to notch in lead I. They explore challenges in defining LBBB, study conduction system pacing, introduce a new criterion for diagnosis, emphasize measuring notches in lead I, and stress the importance of ECGs in diagnosing cardiac conditions.

Discussion on the effects of pitavastatin on coronary artery disease and inflammatory biomarkers in individuals with HIV. Insights on risk reductions, plaque characteristics, and inflammatory markers. Exploration of statin therapy on plaque composition and perivascular inflammation in coronary artery disease. Considerations for initiating statin therapy in HIV patients amidst increased ASCD risk and polypharmacy challenges.

Exploring the impact of Tafamidis on cardiac function in patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy, including insights on early treatment benefits, drug efficacy, and echocardiography effects. Discussion on the positive impact of Tafamidis in halting disease progression and improving cardiac function. Importance of assessing left atrial function in echocardiographic data collection and future treatments for transthyretin cardiomyopathy.

Divaka Perera and Julio A. Panza discuss viability testing and outcomes of revascularization in patients with ischemic ventricular dysfunction. They compare different trials and assess the role of viability assessment in determining appropriate treatment approaches. The chapter also explores the differences between contemporary medical therapy and older observational literature, highlighting the revolution in medical therapy's impact on trial comparisons.

Interview with Muthiah Vaduganathan, MD, MPH, and John W. Ostrominski, MD, authors of Prevalence and Overlap of Cardiac, Renal, and Metabolic Conditions in US Adults, 1999-2020. Hosted by Sadiya Sana Khan, MD, MSc. Related Content: Prevalence and Overlap of Cardiac, Renal, and Metabolic Conditions in US Adults, 1999-2020

Interview with Maria C. Magnus, PhD, author of Maternal Risk of Cardiovascular Disease After Use of Assisted Reproductive Technologies, and Sadiya S. Khan, MD, MSc, author of Assisted Reproductive Technologies and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Birthing Adults—When Null Results Matter. Hosted by Roxana Mehran, MD Related Content: Maternal Risk of Cardiovascular Disease After Use of Assisted Reproductive Technologies Assisted Reproductive Technologies and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Birthing Adults—When Null Results Matter

Interview with Marianna Fontana, MD, PhD, author of Tracking Treatment Response in Cardiac Light-Chain Amyloidosis With Native T1 Mapping, and Sarah A. M. Cuddy, MB, BCh, BAO, author of Imaging Biomarkers in the Management of Light-Chain Cardiac Amyloidosis. Hosted by James Udelson, MD. Related Content: Tracking Treatment Response in Cardiac Light-Chain Amyloidosis With Native T1 Mapping Imaging Biomarkers in the Management of Light-Chain Cardiac Amyloidosis

Interview with Robert W. Yeh, MD, MSc, author of Comparative Effectiveness of Percutaneous Microaxial Left Ventricular Assist Device vs Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump or No Mechanical Circulatory Support in Patients With Cardiogenic Shock, and David J. Cohen, MD, MSc, and Manesh R. Patel, MD, authors of Evidence Generation for Novel Cardiovascular Devices—Putting the Horse Back in Front of the Cart. Hosted by Ajay J. Kirtane, MD, SM. Related Content: Comparative Effectiveness of Percutaneous Microaxial Left Ventricular Assist Device vs Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump or No Mechanical Circulatory Support in Patients With Cardiogenic Shock Evidence Generation for Novel Cardiovascular Devices—Putting the Horse Back in Front of the Cart